Georgia football injury update: Tyson Campbell good to go, but Ben Cleveland out

Georgia freshman cornerback Tyson Campbell suffered a shoulder injury shortly after his 64-yard strip and fumble return for a touchdown opened the scoring at Missouri. Campbell returned, but grew ill and was forced out the remainder of the game.

ATHENS — Georgia football coach Kirby Smart said freshman cornerback Tyson Campbell is good to go, but offensive guard Ben Cleveland will miss the Tennessee game.

Campbell had a shoulder subluxation, and when the freshman cornerback tried to re-enter, he grew nauseated. Smart said Campbell required an IV after getting dehydrated.

Cleveland suffered the broken fibula in his left leg in the third quarter of Georgia’s 43-29 win at Missouri.

Smart said Cleveland will be on crutches for the next week before returning the following week to put weight on the leg.

Sophomore Justin Shaffer filled in for Cleveland after the injury on Saturday. The Bulldogs could start Shaffer or senior Kendall Baker in Cleveland’s place on Saturday.

“We’re going to evaluate that through two or three days of work,” Smart said. “Ben Cleveland was playing well … you hate to see that injury, especially from a continuity standpoint. We’ll look to get our best five in.”

Shaffer has yet to start a game, but Baker started 14 games at left guard last season.

Left tackle Andrew Thomas went out in the first quarter when it appeared a player rolled up on his previously inured left ankle. Thomas originally sprained his ankle on the first play of the second half at South Carolina on Sept. 8.

“Andrew Thomas was no worse off with the ankle,” Smart said. “We felt like he probably could have gone back in if he had to in an emergency. He should be able to practice today.”

True freshman Cade Mays started and played in place of Thomas against Middle Tennessee and came on in relief at Missouri. Mays, a 5-star prospect, enrolled in January after finishing his prep career at Knoxville’s Catholic High School.

Smart said if Thomas is back, Mays could get work at right guard.

Receiver Tyler Simmons, who started the first four games this season, injured his shoulder in the first quarter.

“Not sure how long Tyler will be out with the shoulder,” Smart said on Monday. “It may be a week, maybe two weeks, it maybe less, we don’t know. We’ll see what he can do today.”

Redshirt freshman Eric Stokes came on in relief of Campbell at cornerback and finished with four tackles and three pass break-ups. Stokes also replaced Simmons on the punt return team and blocked a Missouri punt that he scooped up and returned 8 yards for a touchdown.

Smart said inside linebacker Monty Rice was a pregame scratch on account of “an MCL that’s been bothering him since the [Middle Tennessee] game.”

Rice practiced this week and could return for Tennessee.

Natrez Patrick an Juwan Taylor started at inside linebacker with Rice out.